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Friday, December 14, 2018 • Vol. 37, No. 49

Indo American News READ US ONLINE at www.indoamerican-news.com | Published weekly from Houston, Texas. USA 7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036 • PH: 713 789 6397 • Fax: 713 789 6399 • indoamericannews@yahoo.com

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Wrap-2 December 14, 2018

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Friday, December 14, 2018 | Vol. 37, No. 49

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Pratham’s Holiday Luncheon 2018

P4&5 Pratham Houston Executive Board Members at Pratham Houston’s Holiday Luncheon 2018 on Friday, December 7, at The Junior League of Houston.

Ek Andheri Toofani Raat

The Wedding That Has India Obsessed

P17 Movie Review

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The guest of honor, Palav Neeraj (left), with the organizing Committe and Board of the IHA Houston Chapter

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December 14, 2018

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December 14, 2018 3 COMMUNITY IACCGH Nexgen - Fall 2018 Young Minds Panel BY ANISH NAGAR

HOUSTON: The IACCGH

NexGen Exchange had their Fall 2018 Young Minds Panel at the University of Houston on Wednesday November 14. In partnership with UH CEO (Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization), NexGen invited three young and successful entrepreneurs to speak and answer questions on the panel. The panelists were: Franceska McCaughan (Founder of Franzie’s Flower Design and CEO of Franzie’s Flower Friends), Bonnie Treece (Owner of The Brain Domain), and Prasanth Chilukuri (Co-Founder and CFO of Sparkplug Studios).

The event was moderated by Anish Nagar (Business Development and Growth Manager at Governance360 Enterprise Solutions Inc.). The audience was packed

more time paired with curiosity were the driving factors for why the panelists chose the entrepreneurship route. They also focused on the importance of time management and of building out their team. “There’s never the right time and you never feel fully prepared. You have to be willing to put in the time and seed money. If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will. When is the right time? When you are ready to take the jump!” Franceska. The event with young professionals and along with challenges they concluded with a Q&A sesstudents with a commonality faced along the journey. sion and group pictures. of interest in business and en- Collectively, the dream for trepreneurship. The panelists discussed reasons they chose to become entrepreneurs

Indo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every Friday (for a subscription of $40 per year) by IndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036., tel: 713-789-6397, fax:713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Indo American News,7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036

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December 14, 2018

See article on page 5 INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM


COMMUNITY

December 14, 2018

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Pratham Houston Holiday Luncheon Raises Record Breaking Funds For Women Empowerment Programs

HOUSTON:

Pratham Houston’s Holiday Luncheon 2018 on Friday, December 7th at The Junior League of Houston was a resounding success from every aspect: large attendance, excellent entertainment and most importantly, record breaking fundraising - $180,000 towards women empowerment programs. As with previous years, the funds raised at the Luncheon are donated to Pratham’s Women Entrepreneurship program the Beauty and Wellness vocational training program. Under the hardworking leadership of Pratham Houston’s President, Asha Dhume, the event was well organized, entertaining and focused - “Give Women a Chance - Unleash their Potential.” The Mistress of Ceremonies Rekha Muddaraj, TV anchor from KHOU 11 News welcomed the guests and invited Asha Dhume for her opening remarks. Asha thanked the guests for supporting the cause and for their generosity in donating for so many years. She mentioned how Pratham USA was started over 20 years ago with the initial support of Mr. Vijay Goradia and has now grown into a large organization helping millions of underprivileged children in India. Asha emphasized that Pratham USA has been named one of the top charities by The Houston Chronicle and has earned the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for eight consecutive years - placing it in the top 3 % of American charities. The Co-Chairs of the Luncheon, ABC -13 Women Of Distinction, Farida Abjani, Shawntell McWilliams and Dr. Sippi Khurana took to the stage to share their perspective. Farida Abjani and Shawntell McWilliams mentioned they were grateful for this opportunity and spoke briefly on their personal rea-

Pratham Houston President, Asha Dhume Fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue.

Photos: Deborah Wallace, Barfield Photography

Pratham Luncheon Co-Chairs: Shawntell McWilliams (left), Dr. Sippi Khurana, Pratham Houston President Asha Dhume, and Farida Abjani.

son to support Pratham and why women empowerment is important. Dr. Sippi Khurana, Pratham Houston Advisory Board member, shared her interaction over videoconferencing with students and alumni of Pratham’s vocational training programs. She mentioned that it was gratifying to see so many people in India being benefitted by Pratham programs.

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Dr. Marie Goradia, Pratham USA National Board member, conducted a meaningful pledge drive in her convincing and compassionate style - urging guests to donate generously. She narrated the story of a young woman alumnus of Pratham’s entrepreneurship program, who fought against the oppression of her abusive husband and the challenges of society to

emerge successfully with her own small business. During a delectable lunch, guests including prominent Houstonians and community stalwarts networked and enjoyed the holiday event. The event’s grand finale was a spectacular fashion show produced by Lenny Matuszewski for Sak’s Fifth Avenue, models by Neal Hamil followed by a surprise

Kendra Scott giveaway of 50 surprise boxes of jewelry - proceeds of which were donated back to Pratham. The afternoon ended with Mr Swatantra Jain, Pratham USA National Board member and CFO, handing a token of appreciation to the co-chairs Farida Abjani, Dr. Sippi Khurana, Shawntell McWilliams and announced a personal Facebook matching campaign. The volunteer team had done a tremendous job just like they do every year to ensure that the event was executed in a meticulous way. The Pratham USA team including Vikas Bahl, Mani Surkari, Dimpal Kalani and Manasi Pendharkar contributed to a successful event. Please mark April 20, 2019 in your calendars for Pratham USA’s 20th Anniversary Gala celebrating and honoring Mr. Vijay Goradia, founder of Pratham USA. It promises to be another elegant, entertaining and amazing event. Please reach out to Vikas Bahl at vbahl@ prathamusa.org for sponsorship opportunities. To learn more about Pratham and the organizations work please visit www.prathamusa.org.

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For photo collage, see page 04


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December 14, 2018

COMMUNITY

Ek Andheri Barsaat ki Toofan Raat …. and the Poets Recite On! BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

S

UGAR LAND: A fierce storm had blown in over the afternoon, dumping sheets of rain over the whole metropolitan area and by evening time, the downpour only promised to be more severe. The wet roads glistened under the streetlights like black oiled ribbons and cars pulled into the Madras Pavilion parking lot, their wipers furiously sweeping large drops off the windshields. Guests made a mad dash under hastily unfurled umbrellas to the safety of the covered archway and sheltered front door. This was the setting that poets yearn for, when the fury of Mother Nature unleashes the pent up creative juices of minds that take pleasure in the flow of words and the harmonizing of feelings and emotions. Though the deluge kept some people at bay in the comfort of their homes, a decent number of patrons – about 100 – of the International Hindi Association, Houston braved the elements on Friday, December 7 to hear lovers of poetry recite lines from some beloved poems and others reveal their own creations. All the nine CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Clockwise from TOP: The poets and performers sat to one side awaiting their turns; Eesha Dhairyawan, Saanvi Mistry, Aditri Singhal, students of Shiva Mathur’s Shivangini Academy performed the devotional Kathak dance Ganesh Vandana; Palav Neeraj read poems from his grandfather, the renowned poet Gopaldas Neeraj; Arjun Singhal, 13, read poetry in fluent Hindi with his father Dinesh who was the emcee.

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December 14, 2018

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December 14, 2018

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LEGAL

December 14, 2018

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Personal Injury – Injured in an Auto Accident with a Drunk Driver! HOUSTON: The holiday season is an exciting time of year and should be enjoyed responsibly. Many people are driving in a rushed or reckless manner, due to the frenzy of completing shopping lists or going to festivities. Further, there is a high percentage of accidents caused by impaired or drunk driving, resulting in fatal or serious injuries. If you or a loved one were injured by a drunk driver, please call 911 to report the accident and immediately seek medical treatment. The police report will clearly evidence whether any motorist was driving under the influence for your claim. Please also keep a record of all treatment completed including all expenses. It is important to hire a competent attorney to represent victims of drugged or drunk driving accidents to receive just compensation. The Texas Department of Transportation reported a total of 3,342 fatal crashes in 2017. Of those, 910 were caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. There were an additional 2,169 serious injuries and 5,666 non-incapacitating injuries also caused by drunk driving. Statistics also show that the most dangerous time to be on the road is between 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., especially on Saturdays and/or holidays. The Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 further explains driving while intoxicated (DWI) is

Mala Sharma

a criminal charge for drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08% caused by drugs or alcohol. In Texas, driving while intoxicated, causing serious bodily injuries, is a third degree felony. Also, DWI’s resulting in fatalities is a felony charge and sometimes called “manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon” or “intoxication manslaughter”. Under the Texas Transportation Code Section 521.342, driving under the influence (DUI) is a criminal charge specifically for drivers under age 21, with any trace of alcohol in their blood. Those that have suffered damages from a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol may file a civil lawsuit against the driver to receive full compensation for all losses. Victims of drunk driving can recover total economic damages including: medical care, therapy,

nursing facilities, counseling, property damage, lost income, disability, funeral expenses. Medical care for these serious injuries include but are not limited to: spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, disfigurement, paralysis, loss of limbs, and wrongful death. These damages are difficult to cope with for victims and loved ones, both physically and emotionally. Thus, physical pain and mental anguish, or non-economic damages, may also be claimed which can be three times the total economic damages. Any driver under the influence is responsible for all resulting harm because drivers are held to a reasonable, prudent operator duty of care standard to other drivers on the road, passengers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Further, lost wages may be claimed if there is difficulty working due

to chronic pain, disfigurement, or disability and in effect, causing a financial burden. If you or a loved one is a victim of a drunk driver, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced attorney to make sure the negligent driver does not escape and is held accountable for all damages suffered! An experienced attorney will help prove all injuries. No one should pay out of pocket for damages caused by a negligent or drunk driver and entitled to receive full compensation. The Law Office of Sharma & Associates, PC wishes everyone a safe and joyful holiday! About the Author: Mala Sharma has been practicing family law and personal injury with her family at the Law Offices of Sharma & Associates, founded in 1997. Mala has been appointed leadership roles for the American Bar Association GP Solo and GP Solo YLD

division, is Board member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Past President of the Houston Northwest Bar Association, and prior board member of the South Asian Bar Association. She is also a member of the Houston Bar Association. Mala Sharma has been selected to the 2019 Texas Rising Stars by Super Lawyers. Mala has also been selected as 10 Best Attorneys by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorney for 2018-2019, Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers for 2018-2019, and Texas Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney by Attorney and Practice Magazine for 2019. This material is available for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. If you require advice or assistance, you may contact her at office number 281-893-8644 or by email at mala@sharmalaws.net to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

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December 14, 2018

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INDIANS IN NEWS

December 14, 2018

T-Series Video Channel, the Matharoo Sisters, Mastanamma

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Clockwise from above: The Matharoo sisters of Toronto; Gulshan Kumar of T-Series YouTube Channel and Mastanamma of Gudiwada, Andhra Pradesh.

BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA

HOUSTON: To confirm that

Indians the world over are marking their mark in this electronic digital age, there are three stories that are making the rounds these days that owe their very prominence to social media. All three have made their marks through persistence, though one – the story of the Matharoo sisters – has its basis in the much older mores of courtesans mingled in with Instagram accounts that have drawn millions of followers. T-Series You might consider clips from some American stars like Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber as the most watched channels for the webconnected crowd, but the millions of people who follow them are nothing compared to those who follow the Indian channel T-Series. Though not widely known in the US, T-Series is an Indian music label and film production company with the most watched YouTube channel in the world with over 53 billion views. It gains 10,000 subscribers a day and will overcome PewDiePie to become the most subscribed channel on YouTube. It was started in the 1980s by Gulshan Kumar, a former fruit-juice seller and cassette tape operator who also issued pirated recordings of Bollywood blockbusters. By the mid-1990s, the company became a conglomerate of film, television, real estate and even toothpaste and detergent companies. Scored With the advent of smartphones that can reach 200 million people in India, and through partnerships, T-Series has 70 million subscribers and last year, Guru Randhawa’s “Lahore” scored 615 million views. In addition, T-Series has 28 other

channels each geared to a different audience in their own Indian language. It is one of three Indian channels on Socialblade’s list of 10 most influential YouTube channels, the other two being ZeeTV and YRF. It hopes to crossover Bollywood artists and make T-Series a household name the world over. Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo Push over the Kardashian sisters as the Matharoo sisters of Toronto have taken the world stage by courting romances with a series of fabulously wealthy billionaire Nigerian boyfriends. They have accumulated so many luxury items that they have converted a bedroom in their Toronto home to a walk-in closet. In their native country Jyoti, 31 and Kiran, 32 are known as the “Canadian Kardashians” for their unbashful pursuit of material things. Born and raised in Toronto by middle-class parents who had immigrated from India, the sisters’ lives changed in 2008 when Jyoti met a Nigerian billionaire who flew them away in his private jet and whisked them to his mansion. They gained a notoriety, fueled by Instagram posts, which made them the favorites of Nigerian gossip blogs. But the fantastic lifestyle ended abruptly in 2016 when they were arrested by Nigerian police for spreading scandalous rumors of the Nigerian elite and held for a week in detention till they made a confession video. When they returned to Toronto, the worst was not over for Kiran who was arrested and held in Italy for 40 days awaiting extradition to Nigeria. Meanwhile, Jyoti was gaining success in modeling and recipe on Snapchat and Instagram and now, both free, the sisters want to focus on themselves.

Mastanamma, 107 years-old Most unexpectedly, Mastanamma achieved global popularity when she turned 105. Her great-grandson Karre Laxman took a video of her cooking her delicious eggplant curry and posted it on YouTube and in two years she was the star of the YouTube Channel “Country Foods” with a million subscribers. According to Srinath Reddy, who started the channel, she knew she was famous and she loved it. She became an internet sensation. There are now hundreds of videos of her cooking in her unique way and the channels has had 200 million views. Born in a rural village in Andhra Pradesh, Karre Mastanamma married at 11 years old, her husband died at 22 and left her to care for 5 children. To support her family, she worked as a laborer and lived in a small hut made of palm leaves in the village of Gudiwada. She suffered from cataracts, wore dentures, cooked on an open fire outside and sometimes roasted chicken in a steaming watermelon. She squatted over teaming pots and made snails, catla fish, emu egg fry and had a sense of humor of her life. She loved cooking for others, giving them portions of the dishes she cooked on banana leaves. In April, Mastanamma celebrated her 107th birthday with a party, surrounded by children. Several months later she fell ill, slipped into unconsciousness and last week died peacefully in Gudiwada

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COMMUNITY

December 14, 2018

Ek Andheri Barsaat ki Toofan Raat …. and the Poets Recite On! CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

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poets, save for one – Palav Neeraj of San Francisco – were from the Metroplex. They marked the celebration of Hindi Diwas or Hindi Day, a programproducedincollaboration with the India Culture Center, which, not coincidentally, counts many of the same directors as the IHAH does, as, with good reason, they also love their Mother Tongue. The celebration began with a buffet dinner and lots of hot chai. Dinesh Singhal emceed the event which began with introductions from IHA National President Swapan Dhairyawan, ICC President Nisha Mirani and IHAH President Dr. K.D. Upadhaya. They dedicated the event to the memory of the late poet Gopaldas Neeraj (who died in Delhi this past July 19 at the age of 93), whose grandson Palav Neeraj (along with his wife and two children) attended the celebration and read some of his grandfather’s poems. Palav has lived in San Francisco since 2012 and works in the IT sector. Amit Khanna from the Indian Consulate also attended the celebration.

The evening opened with the devotional Kathak dance Ganesh Vandana by Eesha Dhairyawan, Saanvi Mistry, Aditri Singhal, all young students of Shiva Mathur’s Shivangini Academy in Sugar Land. Then the poets had their turn to show their skills, beginning with Bankim Bhavsar (the father of ICC Director Rajiv Bhavsar) who sang the devotional Bhakti ras to Krishna and Radha. He was followed by poetry read in fluent Hindi by 13 year-old Arjun Singhal (both Singhals are children of the emcee). Sangeeta Pasrija, a founder of the IHAH and 20-year resident of the area shared Urdu poetry that her dadi (paternal grandmother) would recite to her, and explained the meaning. Palav Neeraj read poems that his grandfather had become famous for. Gopaldas Neeraj was a renowned poet in Hindi and Urdu, some of which were used in Hindi movies. He was also a Professor of Hindi Literature in Dharma Samaj College, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, He had been awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007. Sarojini Gupta continued with her bubbly personality and radiant

to match, presenting a hasya n vyang poem. She and her husband Subash were later felicitated for their dedicated efforts to promote the IHAH. More lighthearted poems followed from Fateh Ali Chatur who is well-known for the twinkle in his eye and the chance to turn a phrase into a limerick. Dr. Nik Nikam, a cardiologist, host of the online NNN podcast, frequent community photographer and author of two books, continued the vein in Hindi, which is not his mother tongue and one which he usually doesn’t converse in. Sanjay Sohoni added more light hearted poems to the lineup, which was bookended by Dr. Nausha Asrar whose skillful delivery of three poems he sang reminds you that, apart from his profession as a material scientist, his avocation of Hindi and Urdu poetry has made him a star in demand at many mehfils across the world. Alka Raj followed reading vatsalya ras on her mother. And Sarita Mehta, a professor of Hindi literature, entrepreneur and much admired and skillful poetess read a dedication to Gopaldas Neeraj, which she hastily wrote early in the morning when the weather was still calm.

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HEALTH

December 14, 2018

15

Have You Heard of Reiki Treated Foods?

BY KALPANA SHARMA

It is a scientifically proven fact that

our food choices affect our health. And if we take a good look at our food choices today, we will realize that what we are eating today is devoid of nutrients and filled with empty calories. Think of adulterated food items, chemically infested foods and more. TOI Health spoke to Vinay Garg, Reiki food expert, Director of Neelvow Corporation Pvt Ltd to know how Reiki can cleanse the food we eat! What is wrong with the food we are eating? There have been proven research which shows, type of food we eat does affect our mood; For example, quince, dates and elderberries are mood enhancers, lettuce and chicory as tranquilizers, and apples, pomegranates, beef and eggs as erotic stimulants etc. As modern lifestyles create new health challenges, maintaining or improving health and wellness has become a well established priority in many people's lives. The old saying, we are what we eat, is true. Every cell in our body was created from

the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. In addition to nourishing our bodies, food also affects the quality of our lives, our appearance, moods, weight, energy, the aging process and our overall health and well-being. Usually we ignore the importance of food in our life. Neelvow has for the first time in India introduced Environmental Energy Food products for positive life performance enhancing the vital force of our body resulting in positive state of mind, rejuvenation, vigor and health of the mankind in the society. Neelvow's sugar and salt are prepared with Reiki Food Therapy. It is a Japanese technique to promote healing. It is different than electricity or chemical energy or other kinds of physical energy. What are the foods that can help us balance and harmonize emotions and how? Food is essential for a human body to survive and I have mentioned earlier too that food we eat does affect our mood. But you must have heard when a mother cooks food with love and care for her children it is reflected in the food and the child remains healthy eating this food. In the same way, the food that we eat can be energized

through various energies. It is proven that most of the chronic diseases today can be drastically reduced with better nutrition and lifestyle changes. But what we are eating today is actually taking away from our heath. Neelvow has come up with the concept of Energised food, which can help a person to balance and harmonize their emotions by aligning 7 chakras in a row and be increasing optimism in a person. The food products, like salt and sugar are charged with four environmental energies namely- Reiki, Pyramid, Music and Quartz Crystals. These products energize human body by flowing through energy pathways, soothing the nerves and calming the mind. It is the outcome of extensive research in the field of health and innovation in alternative sciences. Here Music and Quartz Crystal synchronizes with the seven chakras for self healing and brings about balance and wellness in a person making them more joyful, social and aligns one to his creative self. Any eating practice that people can incorporate in their lifestyle? There are few practices people can opt for to avoid anger, anxiety etc; like as: - One should not eat heavy food at night and eat at least 3 hour before bedtime - Skipping breakfast can lead to high anxiety and keep you irritated whole day - Chewing slowly helps you digest food easily and keep your immune system strong, which helps in increasing optimism in your thinking - It is said the person who is making the food should be happy and should be calm. It is believed that the cook's good mood and positivity is transferred to the food you eat. What keeps the heart happy? Living life with positivity, seeing every situation with optimism will surely help you to lead a positive and happy life. And this will surely keep your heart strong. -TimesofIndia

Advantages of Deep Breathing Exercises BY TRINA REMEDIOS

Deep breathing exercises can improve your health and this simple exercise is must in especially when you boggled down with stressful factors. When you feel the burden of life's problems on your shoulder, simple deep breathing can provide relief. So next time you are irritated at work, take a deep breath. Let's take a look at the various other advantages of deep breathing.

Reduce stress: Deep breathing exercises can reduce stress levels, reduce panic and fear and helps you think clearly. Deep breath stimulates parasympathetic nervous

system which slows down the heart rate. Apparently breathing can lower high blood pressure too.

Detoxifies the body: Deep breathing cleanses the blood, pumps the blood to all parts of the body, and

flushes the toxins from your body. Builds lung muscles: Deep breathing exercises strengthens the lung muscles and improves the supply of oxygen to your body. Due to our lifestyle we generally inhale less oxygen, hence deep breathing assures you get sufficient oxygen. Lack of oxygen is also responsible for tiredness and lack of alertness. How to do a simple deep breathing exercise? Sit crossed legged on the chair or the floor and place your hands on the knees. Tighten your stomach and exhale slowly. Inhale slowly filling your chest and stomach. -TimesofIndia

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16

December 14, 2018 Reading the Verdict

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY

Sir/Madam, Any Normal People News? BY J. MATHRUBOOTHAM

Respected Madam/ Sir,

Much will be read into the results of the assembly elections in five states that will come in today. This is unsurprising given that general elections are less than six months away. These assembly elections were fought in state arenas, but the results may have a bearing on the build-up to the 2019 parliamentary polls. Their impact will be felt in both the BJP and the Congress, vis a vis each other and internally too. The results may influence the making, and unmaking, of national alliances and set the narratives for the big battle to come. Together, these five states send 83 MPs to the Lok Sabha and the BJP had won 63 of them in 2014; the Congress was nearly wiped out, winning just six. The Congress is a major actor in all five states and it is in a direct contest with the BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Success in these states will boost the Congress’s claims to be the primary pole of any anti-BJP alliance nationally and help the party attract allies elsewhere and negotiate a better deal in states where the party is weak. BJP chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh respectively, are seeking a fourth consecutive term in office. Re-election will strengthen their standing within a party which is seeing a centralisation of powers in a high command. Despite the presence of strong regional leaders, the nature of electioneering turned the contests largely into a fight between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. Losses for the Congress, therefore, could raise questions about Rahul Gandhi’s credentials to be projected as the prospective head of a national coalition against the BJP. These elections may also mark the return of farmers as a politically coherent and sensitive constituency: The Opposition had made rural distress into a campaign issue. This may remain on the centrestage if the results are favourable to the Opposition. But if farmers were an increasingly visible presence in the campaign, the minorities were conspicuous by their near absence. The Congress sought to restablish its “Hindu” credentials during the campaign with Rahul Gandhi becoming active on the temple circuit and the party going silent on polarising issues like mob lynchings in the name of the cow. In short, the poll outcomes could sharpen or dampen the momentum in India’s two main parties: A victory will enthuse workers and cadres and a loss could unsettle the best laid plans.--IndianExpress.com

Early this morning I was just relaxing in the bed. Sun is slowly shining outside. Birds are sitting in the balcony and singing. Smell of delicious food items are coming from the kitchen. Outside mild sounds of people of Chennai living daily life is coming. Nearby I can hear neighbour Dr. Shankaramenon doing daily meditation exercise in front of TV news programme. How many times I have told him manda shiromani whether anybody will do meditation in front of news anchor? Whether he will listen? Whether MLA will say, “Okay enough corruption I have done so far, today onwards full and full public servant only?” Same answer. So, as I was relaxing non-stop audio was coming from doctor’s flat: “Om Om How Dare You How Dare You Om Om Are You Citizen or Traitor Hurr Hurr Hurr Om Shanti Om Shanti Hee Let Me Speak Let Me Speak Let Me Speak...” Oh what wonderful life I thought. No tensions. Retirement life means like this. No hurry to shave and make tiffin. And run to the scooter. Oh no, petrol is not there. Run to petrol pump. Oh traffic jam. Overspeed to office. Scooter parking is not there. Run to the desk, manager is angry. Then customer is angry. Inside lunch box you are hoping for biryani but instead cabbage poriyal. Then accountant is angry. And then you come back home. And family is angry. Only happy thing during those days is once a week Renuka Shahane will come on TV. I will sit inside mosquito net and watch Surabhi. And next morning scooter-petrol-poriyal same to same. But nowadays? Aaha. Sleep at 11 p.m., wake up at 10 a.m.

Delight. Just as I was going to fall back to sleep, Mrs. Mathrubootham suddenly came to the bedroom and started assaulting me with copy of newspaper. I said, “How many times I have told you Kamalam no hitting and throwing till after lunch time.” But she just shook me like earthquake. “Old man, you had to work in bank only so we are living like beggars? So many people are kodishwarans after starting business, or becoming real estate magnate and all. You could have started at least one dustbin factory no? Instead we are suffering like this. Why why why.” “Please Kamalam,” I said. “If you want to hit me, you hit me. But please don’t destroy this bed, it has been in my family since at least 100 years.” “This is the problem,” she said. “You think Priyanka Chopra will tolerate 100-year-old bed in her house?” “Oh ok ok. So that is the problem,” I said. “Now I understand.” Madam/ Sir, immediately I understood. You see anytime some filmstar or multi-millionaire marriage news is there Mrs. Mathrubootham will get very agitated. She will start complaining about my respectable public sector bank career and family background and all.

“Look at how much they are enjoying their wedding,” she will say. “Do you remember our wedding? The moru kootan got over in 20 minutes and how much humiliation I felt in front of public. Look at Priyanka Chopra. Her dress itself is 75 metres long.” In my mind I thought what nonsense you are talking, Priyanka Chopra is woman or AlleppeyBokaro Express? But I didn’t say a single word. Respected Madam/ Sir, this is all fully your fault. If you give coverage only to high-profile wedding, full country will get unhappy. Instead you should cover news of normal people also. ‘Chaos in Mr. Muruganathan’s daughter wedding as son by mistake marries photographer after power cut during function.’ ‘Why did orange squash get less and less orangey during Mrs. D’mello’s wedding reception, will the truth come out?’ Like this and all news if you publish means peace and quiet will be there in household. Please consider. Priyanka Chopra and all please avoid. Yours in exasperation,

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J. Mathrubootham --TheHindu.com


December 14, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS

17

Isha Ambani - Anand Piramal Wedding India is witnessing the biggest wedding of the year, and probably the most expensive one too, as Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal tie the nuptial knot at an extravagant wedding ceremony in Mumbai today. Though the celebrations for the Isha Ambani-Anand Piramal wedding are going on for about four months -- with a royal engagement ceremony in Lake Como in Italy and pre-wedding bash in the City of Lakes Udaipur -- today’s event will be held at the Ambanis’ residence in Antilia, where the couple will finally get hitched. The 27-storey Antilla, one of the world’s most expensive private residences, is all decked up to host the wedding of the year. However, the wedding celebrations are far from over, with reports suggesting the festivities will be held throughout the week.

All the A-listers of Bollywood, including the big three Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, have already danced in the pre-wedding ceremony of the Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal. Pop queen Beyonce Knowles was also seen giving a powerful performance at the pre-wedding event. Not only that, some of the biggest names in the world politics, including former US first lady and secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, and former secretary of

state John Kerry, also marked their presence and danced to the Bollywood tunes. And today’s wedding ritual, which will be attended by who’s who from the world of B-Town, business, and politics, could see the largest gathering of the most influ-

ential people at one place. Isha Ambani is the daughter of Nita Ambani and Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in India, whose company Reliance Industries (RIL) is the biggest conglomerate in the country. Anand Piramal is the son of billionaire Ajay Piramal and Swati Piramal, who own the Piramal Group, a global business conglomerate.

Kedarnath : Sushant Singh Rajput-Sara Ali Khan’s Film is a Weepie Minus the Tears

So is Kedarnath that perfect love

story? By rights, the debut film of Sara Ali Khan (herself a product of an inter-faith marriage) in which she plays a Hindu girl in love with a Muslim boy, played by Rajput, should have been just the film. The names Mukku aka Mandakini and Mansoor have a nice ring to them.And their meet-cute is refreshingly un-drippy. Mukku, spunky younger daughter of a priest (Bharadwaj) keeps an unwanted suitor (Dahiya) at bay, while trying to be a pillar of support to an unhappy older sister (Gor). Mansoor is the ‘pithoo’(a porter who helps pilgrims get to the shrine by carrying them on his back) who catches her eye, and they spark. But soon, melodrama overtakes them; the plot reveals its creaky bones, and the treatment becomes a dismaying throwback to the socials of the ‘60s and ‘70s in which the enraged fathers would declaim loudly, the mothers would wring their hands, and the villain of the piece would gather his forces to pulp the poor hero. A bit of environmental consciousness is bunged in, pointing to the growing greed of locals who want to keep building, and ruining the pristine beauty of the mountains. Tempers are

shown running high, and the fissure between Hindus and Muslims getting

deeper. But none of these elements, which could have lent substance to the film are elaborated on: they are touched upon, and forgotten.

In all this, we keep our eyes on Sara fly in the ointment has impact; as does Ali Khan, the newest star kid on the Gor as Ali Khan’s sister, and Amin as Rajput’s mother. Rajput himself doesn’t really come up with anything new, and Bharadwaj as the angry ‘door-ho-jaao-merinazaron-se baap’ is old, old hat. And that’s the trouble with Kedarnath. It starts off with promise: any film which shows young love ignoring barriers of religion and class needs to be celebrated. Using the devastating 2013 Uttarakhand floods as a major plot twist should have given the film some reallife gravitas. But the writing is sketchy, and the tone confused, never quite knowing whether to go quiet and life-like or to swell with wailing violins, especially when the waters start rising, and life-threatening danger starts looming. There was clarity of intent and execution in Abhishek Kapoor’s terrific Kai Po Che, as it went about upholding the virtues and necessity of religious harmony. It took a clear stand. In trying to please everyone, block. She starts off a tad awkward, but Kedarnath loses edge, and leads to soon settles in and shows a perky confi- a tepid cop-out. It’s a weepie minus dence, very reminiscent of her mother, the tears. the actor Amrita Singh. Dahiya as the ~Indianexpress.com

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

John Abraham Dec 17, 1972

Ritesh Deshmukh Dec 17, 1978

Mahi Gill Dec 19, 1975


18

SPORTS

December 14, 2018

Bumrah, Pujara Star, but Aussie Tail Stretches Victory BY ANDREW MCGLASHAN ADELAIE (ESPN Crickinfo): India 250 (Pujara 123) and 307 (Pujara 71, Rahane 70, Lyon6-122) beat Australia 235 (Head 72) and 291 (S Marsh 60) by 31 runs Had it done enough to be classed as nerve-jangling? It was certainly engrossing. A wonderful Test match. India secured their first Test victory in Australia since 2008 and lead a series in the country for only the second time after a gripping 31-run win in Adelaide. Their quicks led the way on the final day, breaking through each time a partnership was threatening to develop, with Jasprit Bumrah providing the bulk of the key moments. But Australia’s last wicket pair of Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood got it down to needing 32 to win when, on the brink of a delayed tea, Hazlewood drove at R Ashwin and edged low to second slip. Elation everywhere for India, pain for Australia but, when It always felt the target was out of reach, but the last three wickets added 104 to ensure India could never be sure. Shaun Marsh, the focus of much attention after his first-innings continued a run a single-figure scores, played very well for his 60 and Tim Paine battled hard, but both fell to Bumrah who then returned to shift the stubborn Pat Cummins when Australia’s lower order was showing plenty of bottle. Rishabh Pant equalled the world record of 11 dismissals in a match, but for a little while it appeared one that escaped - when Lyon edged Bumrah on 7 - looked like it might come back to haunt him as Lyon produced one of his finest Test innings. The tension was starting to show on India when Ashwin was finally rewarded after a final day of toil: never had an India bowler sent down as many overs in the fourth innings of a Test. Australia resumed the final day on 4 for 104, still needing a distant 219, and had only added another 11 when Travis Head was removed by a superbly-directed short ball from Ishant Sharma which he could only fend into the slips. It was the perfect length, leaving the batsman unsure whether to play the ball or sway out of the line. The first of the day’s mini-stands then began to form between Marsh

Cheteshwar Pujara flicks the ball away, Australia v India, 1st Test, Adelaide, 3rd day, December 8, 2018

and Paine, but all the runs continued to be a grind against a disciplined attack. Marsh went to his fifty off 146 balls, his first in the fourth innings of a Test, before being defeated by Bumrah’s line from round the wicket and feathering a catch to Pant. Despite all his catches, Pant’s glovework certainly remains a work in progress and with a better technique might have got closer to Paine’s gloved pull on 7 which flew fine down the leg side. Australia’s captain

made it through to lunch alongside Cummins, but could not go much further when he top-edged a pull to the first ball of the second over after the break. At that point, Australia needed 136 and any modicum of tension seemed a long way off. However, Cummins and Starc got the target down into double figures, the former playing a largely defensive role while the latter produced a few more shots. Again, though, just as thoughts were turning

to what could happen India struck, Starc edging a big drive against Mohammed Shami for Pant’s recordequalling catch. Still Australia did not fold, this time Cummins and Lyon chipping away. Cummins was just showing signs of coming out of his shell, having passed 100 deliveries faced - driving Shami powerfully on the up through the covers - when he edged a drive off Bumrah which was taken at first slip by Virat Kohli, the India captain hurling the ball to ground with a look of thunder on his face. With just one wicket to fall, the odds were stacked against Australia but a few little things started to go their way: Ishant over-stepped when Lyon might have been given lbw on 32 and edges started to fly wide of the slips. Ashwin had rarely been attacked by the Australia batsman, but the last-wicket pair were nullifying him effectively. One delivery jumped at Hazlewood, took the shoulder of the bat and evaded the field. Surely not? And in the it wasn’t. From around the wicket, Ashwin pushed one full, encouraged the drive, and KL Rahul took a sharp catch inches off the turf. The marker has been laid for this series. It promises much more.

After 49 Years, Kiwis Conquer Pakistan Away ABU DHABI: New Zealand 274 (Williamson 89, Watling 77*, Bilal 5-65) and 353 for 7 dec (Williamson 139, Nicholls 126*, Yasir 4-129) beat Pakistan 348 (Azhar 134, Shafiq 104, Somerville 4-75) and 156 (Babar 51, Ajaz 3-42, Somerville 3-52) by 123 runs For all the excuses Pakistan and their support staff come up with, for all the platitudes of disappointment and frustration that will be bandied around in press conferences, no one could justify what has taken place over the past couple of days. Mickey Arthur said after the first Test here in Abu Dhabi that Pakistan cricket had the ability to move on, and it looks like they’ve moved on without learning a single thing from it. A remarkable turnaround from New Zealand produced a result that is more a heist than a series win. After the smash-and-grab in Abu Dhabi in the first Test, New Zealand repeated the formula in the decider, skittling out a listless, spineless Pakistan for

156. For several teams, it would be a match that stood out for years, the poster child for the need to learn lessons. For Pakistan, it won’t even be the most dramatic implosion of this three-Test series, which they relinquished 2-1 to the visitors. It is the second series loss in last three for Pakistan at their adopted home, after going unbeaten here for almost a decade. Where there was class from New Zealand on the fourth day, there was complacency from Pakistan on the third and a capitulation on the fifth. Having blown their chance to bat New Zealand out of the game, they lacked the powers of concentration to see out 80 overs on the final day. Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls’ partnership alone had spent 24 more overs out in the middle than the entire Pakistan lineup on a fifth day that could not have gone better for Williamson if he had demanded it at a wishing well. Ajaz Patel and William Somer-

ville took three wickets each, with Somerville enjoying a brilliant debut. He can take satisfaction in being the architect of the comeback on the third day after a somewhat toothless start to his bowling career. On day five, however, he looked a completely different bowler, with confidence shimmering in all aspects of his game, tossing the ball up and beating the Pakistan batsmen in the flight. His seven wickets were the fourth-best figures by a New Zealand player on debut, and the glisten in the eyes told of how much it meant to the 34-year-old who had perhaps wondered if such a moment would ever be his. Sarfraz Ahmed and Babar Azam took some control during the middle stages, but nothing short of a wicketless session would do for the hosts. While Sarfraz played in the mould of the player he used to be before becoming captain, he seemed to have found a way to survive in the middle. One wonders why he has lost the confidence to play.

JOB AVAILABLE

India Thrash Canada 5-1 to Top 6 in Hockey World Cup

BHUVANESHWAR: In first match on Day 11, an impressive India thrashed Canada 5-1 to top Pool C and seal a direct berth in the quarterfinals of the FIH Men’s hockey World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. India scored four goals in the fourth quarter through Chinglensana Singh (46th minute), Lalit Upadhyay (47th, 57th) and Amit Rohidas (51st) after Harmanpreet Singh gave home team the lead in the 12th minute. Canada’s lone goal came from the sticks of Floris van Son in the 39th minute. By virtue of this win, India finished on top of Pool C with seven points ahead of world no.3 Belgium on account of better goal difference. Belgium, too on seven points, finished second ahead of third-placed Canada after thrashing South Africa 5-1 in the other Pool C game earlier in the day. South Africa crashed out of the tournament. While India qualified directly for the quarterfinals by being the toppers, Belgium and Canada will play in the cross-overs for a place in the last-eight round. Canada too overcame South Africa by virtue of a better goal difference. Both the teams finished their pool engagements with one point apiece. India will play their quarterfinal match on December 13. The match between India and Canada was touted to be a battle between attack and defence and it panned out exactly the same as the hosts attacked in numbers from the onset to create quite a few scoring chances. India’s first scoring chance came in the ninth minute when skipper Manpreet Singh’s cross from the left flank was met by Dilpreet Singh in the near post but the Canadian goalkeeper Antoni Kindler positioned himself at the right spot to thwart the danger. In the next minute, India got their first penalty corner but Canada defended stoutly. Mandeep Singh was then denied by a good reflex save by the Canada keeper. The Canadian defence finally surrendered in front of India’s relentless attack when Harmanpreet converted the home team’s second penalty corner in the 12th minute. The Indians had another penalty corner in the next minute but Amit messed up the chance.

Positions available: 1) Full- time or part-time cashier / counter (must be able to speak English and understand Hindi) 2) Full-time kitchen help. 3) Full-time sales girl for Sari store (must be able to speak English and understand Hindi) Anyone interested in this opportunity, please contact Ramesh Lulla at 713-819-1820 after 2 pm or Aakash Lulla at 832-715-8328 after 2 pm INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM


December 14, 2018

UK Court Ends the Good Times for Vijay Mallya NEW DELHI: The Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Monday ordered United Breweries chairman Vijay Mallya’s extradition to India. The verdict is a major breakthrough in the case for India’s investigation agencies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the enforcement directorate (ED), which have charged Mallya with defrauding loans of up to Rs.9,000 crore. Mallya now has 14 days to appeal against the decision and can move the higher courts in the UK. If his plea challenging his extradition is turned down, he will be extradited in the subsequent 28 days. The investigative agencies and banks have been trying to close in on Mallya since he fled to London in March 2016. The decision comes as a blow to the businessman, who had last week offered to pay back to banks the principal amount that he owes.

“We hope to bring him back soon and conclude the case. CBI had its own inherent strengths. We worked hard on this case, we were strong on law and facts and we were confident while pursuing the extradition process,” said a CBI spokesperson. “The conduct would constitute the

offences of making false representations to make a gain for himself, conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. The conduct is punishable in India by imprisonment longer than 12 months,” the chief magistrate said while delivering the verdict. The case will now be referred to

the British home secretary (minister), who will decide whether or not to order the extradition. A team of CBI and ED officials were present in the UK for the hearing. Mallya has, in the past, challenged his extradition on grounds of “human rights conditions” in Indian jails. He has also contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is “politically motivated” and that the loans he has been accused of defaulting on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat. The matter first came to light when the CBI, following a complaint by the State Bank of India (SBI), registered a case against Mallya in August 2016. In June 2017, the ED filed a chargesheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act alleging that Mallya fled to the UK on 2 March 2016 as a consortium of 13 banks, led by the SBI closed in on him. -- LiveMint.com

Closing Bell: Sensex, Nifty Shrug Off Election Results, Urjit Patel’s Exit MUMBAI: Benchmark Indian indices BSE Sensex and NSE’s Nifty 50 recovered early losses led by IT and healthcare stocks as investors digested BJP’s poor performance in assembly elections. Latest trends in Assembly election results showed the Congress leading in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh—three states where BJP was in power. Markets initially plunged over 1% in reaction to Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel’s unexpected resignation late on Monday. “Market continued to trade on a negative bias due to global growth concerns and widening fiscal deficit. The initial set of results was good but as the season progressed companies are struggling to maintain a decent operational efficiency due to rising input costs, interest rates and depreciation in INR. And if the global volatility continues investors will be more focused on haven assets like gold & bonds,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research,

Geojit Financial Services Ltd. In global markets, stocks were mixed, with European shares rallying while U.S. futures and Asian shares slipped. Oil prices were under pressure amid worries over global stock markets and doubts that planned output cuts led by producer club OPEC will be enough to rein in oversupply.

Here are the latest updates from the markets: Closing bell: Sensex, Nifty rebound after falling over 1% The BSE Sensex closed 190.29 points, or 0.54%, up at 35,150.01 and the Nifty 50 ended 60.70 points, or 0.58%, higher at 10,549.12. Outperforming the benchmark Sensex, the

BSE mid- and small-cap indices gained 1.54%. All the sectoral indices on BSE, except oil and gas, posted gains, with consumer durables rising most at 2.6%. Healthcare, consumer discretionary goods, FMCG, IT and teck rose between 1% and 1.95%. -- LiveMint.com

19

TCS Acquires US-based BridgePoint Group NEW DELHI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, on Wednesday announced the acquisition of BridgePoint Group, LLC, a US management consulting firm catering to the financial services industry, and specializing in retirement services, through the purchase of select company assets. This acquisition augments TCS’ financial services and insurance domain knowledge, particularly in the area of US retirement services, where BridgePoint’s team of experts currently provide strategic insights and advisory services around growth, business agility, customer experience and technical transformation. TCS currently partners with eight of the top 10 US Banking, Financial Services and Insurance institutions, and offers retirement services across the globe. BridgePoint’s entire management team and key experts will join TCS. Their deep customer relationships and significant industry knowledge adds to TCS’ ability to provide digital solutions that enhance sponsor and participant experience, and drive Business 4.0 transformations in the $1 trillion US retirement services market, TCS said in a press release. TCS president and global head, BFSI platform Suresh Muthuswami said, “The US retirement business is complex, so Bridge Point’s deep industry expertise and team of highly experienced consultants will enable TCS to develop a robust customer-focused retirement services business.” “This move underscores our longterm commitment to IT industry, enhancing our ability to provide endto-end engagements, from strategic consulting to servicing of retirement assets. We welcome the BridgePoint team to TCS,” Muthuswami added. “We are very excited about this transaction, being one that brings benefits to all parties,” said Barbara March, CEO, BridgePoint. “Our customers require access to new and innovative solutions, capitalizing on both BridgePoint’s broad understanding of the industry’s complexities and TCS’ expertise in enabling digital transformations. The portfolio of services offered by TCS will offer growth potential and superior

service to retirement providers across the US.”

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM


20

December 14, 2018

SUDOKU Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Send us the correct answer before December 18, 2018. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036. Send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published (for first three entrees only & 1 submission per month).

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PUZZLES / RECIPES

Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

If you go to any South Asian party, chances are that you’ll be served samosas for snacks. These pyramid shaped appetizers are even available in the frozen food sections in large, medium and cocktail sizes, have crossed over into the mainstream stores and the name has become part of the vernacular. Below is a reprint of Mama’s Samose recipe, which is perfect with chutney and hot tea. It is reprinted with some additional information and directions.

Samose (FRIED STUFFED PASTRIES)

Here is another North Indian snack that has migrated not just to the rest of India but around the world. It is perhaps the most popular Indian snack due to its neat triangular appearance, variety of stuffings and flaky texture when cooked right. The closest Western snack to it is probably the empananda which is a baked, long, shell-shaped which originated in Spain and Portugal in the Moorish period of the 8th century and has made its way to Latin America. In India, the corner store halweis (confectioners) generally make samosas for an afternoon tea snack, but in larger stores they are available all day. Some people will sometimes eat a whole meal of samosas rolled up in a roti, with a little chutney or with semi-dry chole (garbanzos) as a heavy appetizer. Samosas are usually made with maida (finely milled, refined and bleached wheat flour), like puff-pastries. Although most people associate samosas with India, it may come as a surprise to learn that, just like sone halwa which came from Turkey, samosas originated before the 10th century in the Middle East where they are known as sambosa. They were introduced to India in the 13th or 14th century by Arab traders and are mentioned in the Mughal courts as sambusak. Samosas are generally served hot and eaten with mint or imbli (tamarind) chutney. They now come in small bite size to serve with cocktails and of course, the large Punjabi style, usually stuffed with potatoes and peas. Ingredients: • 1 cup maida (fine bleached wheat flour) • ½ cup pani (water) – enough to make the dough • ¼ cup tael (vegetable oil) • 1 lb aloo (potatoes) – avoid russet as the mash easily • ¼ cup mutter (peas) - if frozen, then defrost first • Spices to taste: namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), garam masala, dhania (coriander) Directions: 1. Place the aloo in a medium pot full of water and bring them to a boil. When tender (but not mushy), remove the aloo, discard the water and let the aloo cool down. 2. Peel the aloo and chop into small pieces. Pour a tablespoon of oil into a

skillet over medium heat and stir fry the potatoes till they are a little brown. Stir in the namak, mirch, dhania and garam masala to taste. 3. For the samosas shells, in a bowl, pour in the maida then add the oil and sprinkle in some warm water, mixing well to make the dough. Judge the amount of water needed so that the dough is semi-hard and not too soft otherwise the samosa shell will fall apart. Cover the dough and leave it covered for at least 30 minutes. 4. Take an inch round piece of dough and make a ball out of it. Now roll it out like a 1/8 inch thick roti and cut into half. 5. With your hand, form a holder between your fingers and your thumb. Place the half-cut dough in this cavity and then close the straight ends by pinching them off to make a cone. 6. Take a spoonful of the aloo-mutter mixture and place it in the cone. Now pinch off the open top end. Repeat till all the dough is finished and place the filled cones on a tray. Sprinkle the bottom of the tray with some dry maida so that the filled cones do not stick. 7. Heat some frying oil in a karahi (wok) over high heat. Throw in a small dab of dough to make sure the oil is very hot, and then turn the heat

to medium. Take a filled cone and release it into the hot oil. Keep doing this till the surface of the oil is covered with filled cones. 8. When one side is slightly brown, turn it over using a sieved spatula and turn over a few times to make sure both sides are cooked. Be careful that they do not become dark brown. Take them out and place on a paper towel to absorb the extra oil. 9. Samosas are best when served hot with some tomato ketchup or mint chutney. Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India (since renamed Faisalabad) before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her early-nineties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share her delectable Punjabi recipes for future generations.

MAMA’S TIP O F THE

WEEK GREASE THE PAL M S W H E N MAKIN SAMOSAS, PINNIS AND OTHER PAST G One of the things m RIES any young and inex when

pe they make the doug h balls, cones for sarienced cooks ask is that the atta (flour) stick mosas, pi is or ladd s us, their palms to make to their hands. Some try to use ann little water on th e at ta stick less, but this us worse. Also, it is re ually kept for long periocommended for pinnis and laddusmakes matters which can be ds wi th ou t refrige water is added to th em they will beginration, but the moment some to spoil. The best thing to do dab your palms wi keep replenishing th a little time, and as they as often as you need to. This workbit of oil and sa your hands oily”!! y, “if you want to cook well, yo s most of the u have to get

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December 14, 2018

INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM